Transmission control



Dec. 131953 G. E. FLINN TRANSMISSION CONTROL Filed May 26, 1948 mar 1 Patented Dec. 15, 1953 TRANSIWISSION CONTROL George E. Flinn, Muncie, Ind., assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 26, 1948, Serial No. 29,270

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to transmissions for automotive vehicles and more particularly to such transmissions of the planetary gear type known as overdrives.

Overdrives in common use at present generally contain an electric solenoid for actuating the pawl of a positive brake for an element of the planetary gear set in the transmission. The solenoid contains an energizing coil and a holding coil which are both energized. for moving the pawl into its energized position which is generally a brake engaged position. The energizing coil draws a, current which is comparatively large with respect to that taken by the holding coil, and the energizing coil is therefore deenergized by the opening of a switch when the pawl reaches its energized position, in which position it is held by means of the holding coil alone. This switch is located within the solenoid and actuated by means of the pawl.

Such overdrives also go erally include means for disabling the ignition of the vehicle engine which comprises a switch that is actuated when the pawl reaches its engaged position. for terminating the ignition disablement. This switch is also located within the solenoid.

It has been found in actual usage that switches rust and oxidize excessively and also cause rusting and oxidation within the solenoid apart from the switches themselves, this oxidation and rusting principally being due to the elec trolytic action of the switch contacts. Overdrives are generally located on the underside of the vehicle, and the solenoids are thus subject to moist conditions due to splashing, and hence this electrolytic action.

It is an object of my invention to provide electric control system for such an overd which does not include any contacts located Wlori-- in the solenoid itself and actuated by the pawl and to instead provide switches for performing the functions or" the two switches just mentioned which may be placed within the engine comps-rd ment of the vehicle or in other location which will be relatively dry compared to the um derside of the vehicle.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide such an improve-:1 electrical control tem for overdrives which includes a delay relay. The delay relay may actuate two switches, one being in series with the energizing coil of the solenoid and opening a circuit throngits en ergizing coil a predetermined time after energization of both the solenoid and delay relay, which time is suflicient for allowing the full travel of th pawl. The other switch may be in an ignition interrupting circuit and actuated a predetermined time after deenergization of the delay relay, so that the ignition is restored to normal operation in such predetermined time, which time is sufficient for the pawl to be pulled out of its engaged position without the thrust of the parts of the positive brake preventing such a pull-out of the pawl.

It is a more particular object of the invention to so arrange the circuits in connection with the delay relay so that the holding coil and the energiaing coil of the solenoid hereinabove refer ed to are connected in series with the coil of the delay relay when the delay relay is being deenergized. The effect of so connecting the coils of the solenoid is to lengthen the delay after which the relay is completely deenergized to actuate the ignition interrupting switch. By such lengthening of the deenergization period of the relay, more time is allowed for the pawl to move into its brake disengaged position.

My invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of an overdrive transmission attached to an ordinary three speed countershaft type transmission, with which overdrive my improved control arrangement may be used;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated; and

Fig. 3 is an electrical diagram of a control system for the overdrive shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and. embodying principles of the invention.

For further details of the ccuntershait and overdrive transmission units, the co-pending application of Charles Harrison, Serial No. 23,718, filed May 22, 1948, may he referred to.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

Referring now in particular to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the illustrated transmission arrange ment comprises a planetary overdrive unit and a countershaft type unit ii vhioh is shown only ii'aginentarily. The planetary overdrive unit comprises a drive shaft 52 rotatahly disposed within the transmission. casing it by means or a hearing it and a driven shaft iii rotatably disposed in the casing It by means a bearing The drive shaft 52 is driven by the countershai unit it which will hereinafter be described in greater detail, and the driven shaft I 5 is adapted to be connected to the driving wheels (not shown) of the vehicle by any suitable connections.

The gear set in the overdrive unit It! comprises a sun gear l 'I, a ring gear I8, planet gears I9 (one being shown in the drawing) and a carrier 29 on which the planet gears I9 are rotatably disposed. The sun gear I? is rotatably disposed on the drive shaft I2; the ring gear I8 is connected with the driven shaft t5; the planet gears I9 are in mesh both with the sun gear I! and with the ring gear I8; and the planet gear carrier is splined on to the drive shaft i2, as shown.

A one-way clutch 2! is provided between the shafts I2 and I5. The clutch comprises rollers 22 disposed between inner and outer cammed surfaces 23 and 2 located respectively on the outer surface of a hub member 25 splined on to the shaft !2 and within a central cavity in the driven shaft !5.

A positive type clutch 26 is provided to connect the carrier 25, and the sun gear H. The clutch 26 comprises clutch teeth 27 provided on the carrier 2i and teeth 28 formed on the sun gear IT. The sun gear I! may be shifted longitudinally of the shaft ii to engage the teeth 28 with the teeth 27 as is apparent.

The countershaft unit Ii comprises a gear 29 splined on the shaft I2 which constitutes the driven shaft of the unit I i. A countershaft cluster gear is rotatably disposed within the transmission casing I3, and the gear 39 includes gears 31 and 32. An idler gear 33 is rotatably disposed within the casing i3 and is permanently in mesh with the gear 32. The gear 29 is shiftable on the shaft E2 into mesh either with the gear 3| or with the gear 33. It will be understood that the countershaft unit II includes other mechanisms for driving its driven shaft I2 at various speed ratios with respect to a drive shaft (not shown) of the countershaft unit; however, since details of such countershaft units are well known and are shown in the before mentioned copending application, Serial No. 28,718, for example, I do not consider the illustration of such details necessary for a full explanation of my invention.

A positive brake is provided for the sun gear I'I of the planetary gear set. The brake comprises a pawl 34 which is rotationally fixed with respect to the transmission casing i3 and is movable into engagement with a slotted element 35 fixed on the sun gear i l. A pawl blocker 35 provided with blocking ledges 38a and 36b is disposed in frictional contact with the slotted element 35 so as to be oscillated in and out of blocking position by rotation of the slotted element.

The pawl 34 is actuated by means of an electric solenoid 3? which comprises a holding coil 38 and an energizing coil 39. The coils are disposed about a core 433, and a plunger 4| is slidably disposed in and extends through the core 46 and is connected with the pawl 34.

A solenoid armature 42 is fixed to the plunger M, and a hat-like element 43 is screwed on to the armature it at its outer end. A spring 44 is disposed between the element 43 and a portion of the casing d5 of the solenoid 31 and functions to yieldably hold the armature 42 in the position in which it is illustrated. A cap-like element 46 is pinned on the outer end of the plunger 4| and a spring 4? is provided within the hat-like element is and extends between this element and the element 46, as shown.

A shift rail 48 is provided for shifting the sun gear II. A shift fork 49 is provided on the rail it and extends into a circumferential groove 56 provided in an annular element 5i fixed on the sun gear ii. The shift fork 59 has a lost motion connection with the rail 49 which is provided by a spring 52 disposed between the fork and a spring washer 53 fixed on the rail.

An interloek is provided between the rail 8 and the pawl which comprises a groove 54 formed in the pawl and a land 55 formed on the shift rail and adapted to enter the groove when the rail is shifted to the right as seen in the drawing. A shift lever 5E is provided on the exterior of the transmission for shifting the rail 18 for engaging the clutch 26 and locking the pawl 36 against movement by means of the land and groove 5:3. The lever 56 is fixed on a shaft 57 rotatably disposed in the transmission casing I 3 and carrying a lug portion 53 which is eccentric with respect to the shaft and is disposed in slot 59 formed in the rail 48. The eccentric arrangement of the lug portion 58 is such that when the lever 56 is swung, the lug portion coacts with an end of the slot 59 to move the rail #8 in the direction to engage the clutch it. A spring 66 is provided between a shoulder portion on the rail 38 and the transmission I3 for yieldably holding the shift rail 58 in its illustrated position correspond ing to disengaged condition of the positive clutch 26.

The gear 29 in the countershaft unit It is shifted by means of a shift lever 5! located exteriorly of the transmission. The shift lever is fixed on a shaft 62 rotatably disposed in the transmission casing i3 which carries on its inner end a shift fork 83 that fits in a groove 54 provided in the gear 29. The shift fork 63 is es centrically disposed with respect to the shaft 62 so that swinging movement of the lever GI and shaft will shift the gear 29 in either direction. The shaft 52 is provided with a portion $5 which is so shaped that when the gear 29 is shifted into engagement with the idler gear 33, the shaft 68 is shifted by the cam portion 65 to the right as seen in the drawing against the action of the spring 69.

In the operation of the countershaft unit II, the shaft I2 which constitutes the driven shaft of the unit is driven at a plurality of speed ratios in the forward direction or else in the reverse direction with respect to a drive shaft of the unit (not shown). The gear 23 is shifted either in one direction or the other by swinging movement of the exterior Shifh lever ill, as has been described. The gear 29 when moved into mesh with the gear 3! completes a forward drive power train to the shaft I2, and when the gear 29 is shifted in the opposite direction to mesh with the idler gear the shaft I2 is driven in the reverse direction. The terms forward and reverse are used in this connection in the sense that forward rotation of the shafts I2 and I5 causes forward movement of the vehicle and reverse rotation of the shafts causes reverse movement of the vehicle, and the forward direction of rotation may be taken as indicated by the arrow 65.

When the shaft I2 is driven in the forward direction, the one-way clutch 2i engages to coinplete a drive between the shafts I2 and I5, and as will be understood, the shafts I2 and I5 rotate at the same speed. An overdrive speed ratio may be provided through the overdrive gear unit It and between the shafts I2 and I5 by engaging the pawl 36 to hold the sun gear it" stationary. In order to engage the pawl the two solenoid coils and are energized so as to draw the arma- -ivithin the solenoid against the action of the springs and ll. The spring t! acts by means of the element so on the plunger All and pawl to move the pawl toward the slotted element 3%, engagement of the pawl 3 with the slotted element is prevented due to the blocker until the speed of the sun gear it and the slotted element has been brought to zero and they have been given a slight rotation in the re verse direction. The blocker 35, when the drive is through the one-way clutch 2 l, tends to rotate in the forward direction along with the other parts of the planetary gear set, and the blocker under these conditions has its blocking surface in the path of movement of the pawl and blocks engaging movement of the pawl. in. order to reduce the speed of the slotted element 355 and finally reverse its direction of rotation, the driven shaft to is allowed to overrun the shaft it so as to disengage the one-way clutch 2i. Upon such reversal of rotation of the slotted element the blocker "3 5 is moved, due to its frictional contact with the slotted element, out of its blocking position to allow engagement of the pawl as with the slotted element. The planetary gear set Ill is then in overdrive condition, and the ring gear to and driven shaft iii are rotated at an overdrive speed with respect to the shaft l2.

The overdrive gear unit in may be locked in a one to one drive by manipulation of the shift lever lit to engage the clutch 25. The lever is swung to move the shaft lt rearwardly, so as to move the sun gear I? in the same direction to engage the teeth 2? and 28, and upon such engagernent, all the parts of the planet gear set are locked together so as to provide a two way direct drive between the shafts l2 and !5. Such movement of the shift rail incidentally, also has the function of bringing the land formed on the rail into the slot at in the pawl 34 so as to lock the pawl from any movement to engage with the slotted element 355. Such a movement of the shift rail it to cause engagement of the positive clutch 26 is also caused by a movement of the gear 29 in the countershaft unit 5 l to its reverse drive position in which it is in mesh with the idler gear A two-way direct drive must exist between the shafts i2 5 for reverse drive from the countershaft unit 5 8, due to the fact that the one-way clutch 2:! cannot transmit a drive from the shaft ii! to the shaft it in the reverse direction.

The transmission arrangement (exclusive of anv electrical. controls) hereinbefore described is quite similar so such arrangements which have been in use for some time, and ."f doom as the princ pal feature of invention the provision of an electric control system for such a transmission arrangement which utilizes a solenoid 31 as is shown which does not include any electric switches within the solenoid itself. This electrical control system will now be described.

Referring now in particular to 3, the electric control system for the solenoid 3'! comprises governor switch it, a rail switch 1! and a kickdown switch 72. The governor switch iii is a .rt of a centrifugal governor 6'3 which is driven n the shaft l5 by gears "all and '55 and a suit able power transmitting means such as a shaft iii. The governor is may be of any suitable type and may comprise weights I? which when moved outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force operate on a plunger is to close the switch is.

The rail switch H is positioned to be actuated by the rail 43, and this switch is opened when the rail is moved to a position to engage the clutch teeth 28 and 21. The kickdown switch it. is adapted to be actuated by the accelerator 'ii) of the vehicle in which the transmission is installed. The switch 12 comprises a set of contacts 83, a set of contacts 8! and a switch blade 82. The switch 72 is in its illustrated condition closing the contacts ii} for all ordinary driving positions of the accelerator; however, when the accelerator is moved to its wide open throttle position, it is effective in this position to actuate the switch 2 to open the contacts so and to close the contacts 3i.

J. assembly which includes two relays l3 and The relay 84 comprises a winding disposed on a core 86 and adapted to actuate an armature The relay comprises two sets or" contacts so and 89, and the armature S? carries one of the contacts 88 and one of the contacts as. the deenergized condition of the relay to in which the relay is shown, it will be noted that the contacts 89 are closed and the contacts are open.

The relay 83 comprises a winding so on a core ill. The core 9! is provided with a plurality of slugs 92 in the form of washers disposed about the core, and these slugs have the effect of re tarding either the increase or decrease of mag netic flux within the core for purposes to be described. The core is effective on an armature as, and the relay comprises two sets of contacts tit and 35. The armature, 93 carries one of the contacts so and one of the contacts and as will be noted by referring to the figure, in the deenergized condition of the relay .33 in which it is illustrated, the contacts iii; are open and the contacts $5 are closed.

The electrical control arrangement includes the ordinary ignition system of an automotive vehicle comprising an induction coil 95 having a primary winding 91, a secondary winding $3 and an interrupter 99. The interrupter comprises a switch see which is opened and closed by means of a rotating part it! for the purpose of producing an interrupted current through the primary winding 9?. The primary winding 9! is connected with the equal ignition switch it which in turn is connected to the vehicle battery H33.

As will be noted, the switches to and "ii and the switch contacts 85 are connected in of the contacts so of the relay 83, and the other are grounded as shown. One of the contacts 8| of the switch '52 is connected to a point between the solenoid coil 38 and one of the contacts 95, and the other contact 8! is connected to a point between one of the contacts 88 and the winding 98.

As has been mentioned, the slugs 92 are provided on the core 9i to retard the building up and decay of magnetic flux in the core 9|, and these slugs thus have the effect of providing a delayed actuation of the armature 83 upon current being applied in. the winding 98 and of causing a delayed returning of the armature 83 to its deenergized position when current is discontinued through the winding 99. The slugs 92 thus make the relay 88 a delayed action relay. The circuit arrangement which includes the accelerator switch contacts iii by means of which the solenoid coils and 39 may be connected in series with the winding 98 has an additional effect in delaying the action of the delay relay still further than is provided by the slugs 9?. alone, which action will be hereinaier described in greater detail.

When. the vehicle traveling below the critical speed of the governor '23, the condition of the circuits just described is as shown in Fig. 3 with the relays 83 and 8% both being deenergized. When the speed of the vehicle increases so that the governor switch ill is closed, the circuit through the relay winding 85 is thereby completed to energize the relay 88. This circuit is from the battery 283, through the ignition switch N2, the winding 85, the switch ii, the contacts 88 of the switch '52, and the switch it. relay 84 upon being so energized opens its contacts 89 and closes its contacts 88.

Closure of the switch contacts 88 cf the relay 84 has the effect of connecting both the solenoid energizing coil and the solenoid holding coil 38 with the battery 93. The energizing coil 39 is connected with the battery through the switch contacts 85, 38 and the ignition switch Hi2, and the holding coil 33 is connected with the battery through the winding 99, the switch contacts 88 and the ignition switch 582. The two coils and 39 of the solenoid being thus energized cause the solenoid armature 42 to move into its energized position in which the armature is in contact with the solenoid core 48. This movement of the armature 52 is against the action of the springs it and ii. The spring A? is eilective on the plunger 4! through the element 4 6 and thereby moves the pawl 88 into engagement with the balk ring 33. The engine of the vehicle is driving through the countershaft unit l and through the one-way clutch 2!, and the balk rin 38 is in a position to prevent movement of the pawl into engagement with the slotted element 35. When the accelerator 19 of the vehicle is subsequently released so that the vehicle engine ceases to drive the gearing of the planetary gear set, the planetary gear set is operative so as to cause the sun gear ii and the slotted element connected therewith to cease rotating and to finally reverse their direction of rotation so as to move the balk ring 38 out of blocking position whereby the pawl 34 may move into engagement with the slotted element 35 under the action of the spring :11. Upon the pawl thus engaging the slotted element, the overdrive power train through the planetary gear set is completed.

Since the winding $9 of the relay 83 is in series with the holding coil 38 of the solenoid 31,

The

the winding 90 is energized at the same time as the coil 38. Due to the delay feature of the relay 83, the core 9| is not completely magnetized immediately upon application of voltage to the relay winding, and for a short period of time the relay 83 remains in its illustrated deenergized condition with the contacts 95 closed and the contacts 94 opened. After the delay period of the relay 83 has expired, the core 9| is fully magnetized, and thereupon the armature 83 of the relay is drawn into its energized position to open the contacts 95 and close the contacts 94. Opening of the contacts 95 breaks the circuit through the energizing winding 39 of the solenoid 31 in series with these contacts, and this coil is thus deenergized. The armature 42 of the solenoid 3! nevertheless remains in its energized position in contact with the core 48 due to the action of the holding coil 38 which remains energized. The delay, incidentally, of the relay 83 is sufficient so that the armature 82 is drawn into its energized position before the relay 83 becomes effective to close the contacts 94 and open the contacts 95. This delay in opening the contacts 95 and closing the contacts 94 furthermore is greater than would be provided by the slugs 92 themselves, inasmuch as the winding 98 is in series with the holding coil 38 of the solenoid 31 which in itself has inductance and thus delays the building up of the current through the winding 99 and coil 38.

When the operator of the vehicle, while the vehicle is traveling in overdrive, wishes to downshift from overdrive to direct drive in the planetary unit It, he may do so by a depression of the accelerator 19 to its open throttle position. In this position the accelerator opens the contacts 89 of the kickdown switch 12 for thereby opening the circuit through the winding 85 of the relay 84 to deenergize the relay. Upon such deenergization, the relay 84 closes its contacts 89 and opens its contacts 88. The contacts 89 when closed complete an ignition grounding circuit, and this circuit is from ground through the contacts 94 and the contacts 89 to the point between the ignition coil and the interrupter 99 to which one of the contacts 89 is connected. This grounding of the ignition circuit has the effect of disabling the ignition coil so that it does not operate to cause firing of any of the spark plugs (not shown) of the vehicle engine, and the whole ignition system is disabled so that the driving wheels of the vehicle tend to drive the engine of the vehicle rather than vice versa. The opening of the contacts 88 of the relay 84 has the effect of deenergizing the holding coil 38, so that the spring 44 tends to move the armature 52 and thereby the plunger 4! and pawl 34 due to the action on the Washer like element 46 back into the deenergized positions of these parts. The grounding of the ignition circuit just described has the elfect of temporarily relieving pressure of the slotted element 35 on the pawl 34, this being in effect a torque reversal, and the pawl upon this torque reversal is pulled out of engaged condition with the slotted element. The transmission is then back in direct drive condition with the drive being through the overrunning clutch 2 I.

With the winding 90 of the relay 83 and the holding coil 38 in series, the holding coil 38 and relay 83 are deenergized simultaneously. The slugs 92 of the relay function to hold the armature 93 of the relay in its energized position in which the contacts 94 are closed for a predetermined time after the contacts 88 have. opened. Still additional means are provided, however, for increasing the delay of the relay 83 in opening the contacts at and closing the contacts 95, and this comprises the switch arrangement controlled by the accelerator "it, which functions to con meet all three windings 33, 39, and so in series when the accelerator is moved into its kickdown or open throttle position. When the accelerator is in this position, the switch blade 82 opens the contacts as and closes the contacts 8i as has been described, and the contacts 8! when so closed complete a circuit from the solenoid energizing coil 3t through the contacts 2! and winding til through the holding coil The inductance of the coils 3t and 3t together with the eifect or" the armature 42 in moving through these coils to set up an electromotive force in the cells due to this movement have the effect of keeping the relay 8S energized for a greater length of time than would be obtained Without the coil as being so Connected in series with the other two coils 9% and 38. During the delay period in which the contacts 9 3 are closed, they complete the ignition grounding circuit above described after closing of the contacts 89 upon deenergization of the relay S t, and this time is sufficient to allow the pawl St to be pulled out of engagement with the slotted element 35. When the relay 9i is completely deenergized after this delay period has elapsed, then of course the armature Q3 moves hack to its deenergized position to open the contacts and close the contacts 95, and this opening of the contacts 9d has the effect of breaking the ignition grounding circuit, and the ignition is then again operative so that the engine drives the vehicle even though the accelerator it may be kept in its wide open throttle position.

The rail switch it is adapted to be acted on by the shift rail 18, and this switch is opened when the rail id is moved into its position in which it is eriective to engage the clutch 26 for locking up the planetary gear set. The rail switch ii when opened by the movement of the shift rail functions to prevent an energization of the relay 34 even though the speed of the vehicle increases sufficiently to close the governor switch iii. The rail switch it is thus effective to prevent an engagement of the pawl 34 with the slotted element 35 while the clutch 26 is engaged, this being for the purpose of preventing the overdrive gear set from being in two different two-way drives at once which would cause breakage of some of the parts of the gear set.

It will be noticed that the circuit for controlling the overdrive gear set just described does not include any switch contacts within the solenoid at. In commonly used installations there are at least two sets of such switch contacts within the overdrive solenoids, one set corresponding to the contacts as and the other corresponding to the contacts as. Since the contacts 94 and 95 in my improved arrangement are located in the relay assembly which may be positioned within the vehicle engine compartment or at any other comparatively dry place on the vehicle, corrosion of the contacts in my arrangement will not occur as is quite possible with the ordinary installations in which the contacts are located within the overdrive solenoid. It will be borne in mind that the overdrive solenoids are in general located underneath the vehicle in which position moisture is likely to enter. Another very advantageous feature of the invention is considered to be the arrangement for increasing the delay of the re lay 83, compared to that delay which would be provided simply by the slugs B2, on a downshift of the planetary gear set. My improved arrangement includes the switch contacts iii closed upon a downshii'ting movement of the accelerator is of the vehicle which contacts complete a series circuit including the two solenoid coils and 39 and the relay winding and the delay or the relay is increased due to the inductance of the coils 33 and 39 and also the electroinotive force produced by the movement of the armature 52 through these coils upon deenergization or" the solenoid 31.

I wish it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions, arrangements and devices hereinabove described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limed, as it will be understood that changes may be made without departing 'rom the principles of the invention. pended claims, I wish it to be understood that where I specll'y in the claims an engaging means or a positive engaging means I intend to include by this expression not only a brake as is CilS- closed in the illustrated embodiment of the invention but also a clutch, a bralze being understood to be an engaging means in which one part to be engaged is stationary and a clutch being understood to be an engaging means in which both parts are movable.

I claim:

1. in combination, an electric solenoid comprising a holding cell, an energizing coil and an armature movable Within said code, a delay relay having an energizing winding a switch, said switch being connected in series with said energizing coil and said winding being connected in series with said holding coil, means ior connecting a source of electric current with energizing winding and said switch whereby to energize said solenoid and said delay relay, said relay being actuated a predetermined time aiter such energization which is suticlent for movement of said armature in said solenoid whereby to open said switch aiter which said holding coil remains effective to hold the armature in energized position, and means for connecting said coils and said winding in series on deenerglzation or said delay relay whereby to increase the time or" deactuation or said relay.

In combination, an electric solenoid comprising a holding coil, an energizing coil and an armature movable within said coils, spring means for holding said armature yieloingiy at least partially without said coils, a delay relay coinprising an energizing winding on a core and metal washers on the core for causing the relay to remain actuated a predetermined time alter energization of said winding and to remain deactuated a predetermined time after deenergization of said Winding, a switch actuated by said delay relay and closed when the relay is de actuated, said switch being connected series with said energizing coil and the winding of relay being connected in series with said holding coil, means for connectng a source of electric current with said energizing winding and said switch whereby to energize said solenoid and said delay relay, the delay of actuation oi said relay after energization of its said winding being sufficient for movement of said armature in said solenoid to actuated position whereby said switch is opened and said energizing coil is deenergized after said armature has so moved and In the construction of the ap- 11 after which said holding coil remains effective to hold the armature in its actuated position, and means for connecting said coils and said winding in series on deenergization of said delay relay whereby to increase the time of deactuation of said relay.

3. In transmission mechanism for an automotive vehicle having an ignition system, the combination of a drive shaft, a driven shaft, means for providing relatively low and high speed power trains between said shafts, said last-named means including a slotted element and a movable element movable into engagement with the slotted element to complete the high speed power train and allowing the completion of the low speed power train when disengaged from the slotted element, an electric solenoid having an energizing coil and a holding coil and having a movable armature for moving the movable element into and out of engagement with the slotted element, means for interrupting the vehicle ignition system to permit disengagement of the movable element from the slotted element to complete the low speed power train and including an electric switch, a delay relay having an energizing coil connected in series with said holding coil and controlling said switch whereby actuation of the switch is delayed for a time after deenergization of the delay relay, an accelerator for the vehicle, and means controlled by said accelerator and effective upon movement of the accelerator to a kickdown position for deenergizing said delay relay and connecting the energizing coil of said solenoid and the energizing coil of said relay in series with said holding coil for increasing the delay of the relay and actuation of the switch until the movable element has completed a movement out of engagement with the slotted element to complete the low speed power train and due to a resultant electromotive force in said delay relay coil generated by said solenoid coil upon movement of the armature through said solenoid coil during a disengaging movement of the movable element out of engagement with the slotted element.

GEORGE E. FLINN.

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